Attractions
Star Fort
During their occupation of Sri Lanka the Dutch built a small
outpost fort on the north bank of the Nilwala estuary at Matara in
the form of a five-pointed star, in order to guard the river
crossing. The fort, dating from 1763, now...
see full detailsWewurukannala Temple
Not all Buddhist temples are ancient, nor are they all
conservative affairs. The colourful, somewhat garish, modern
Wewurukannala Temple at Dikwella village near Matara is quite an
eyeful, featuring hundreds of brightly painted and gilded models
depicting scenes from the life of Buddha, and...
see full detailsYala National Park
Elephants are the most often-spotted inhabitants of the vast
Yala National Park in the southeast of Sri Lanka, east of Matara,
but they share the reserve with 130 different species of birds and
other creatures like sambhur, spotted deer, sloths, crocodiles,
monkeys, wild boar...
see full detailsGalle
The port town of Galle, about 60 miles (100km) south of Colombo
and a short distance west of Matara, is steeped in the heritage of
the Dutch presence in Sri Lanka, dominated by the 36-hectare
(89-acre) Dutch Fort, built in 1663, with its...
see full detailsBeaches
The southern beaches of Sri Lanka are the most popular for
tourists, the main season extending from October to April when the
monsoon has moved on and the sea is calm and tranquil under bright
blue skies. Bentota is one of the loveliest...
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